Speaking to reporters in Sri Lanka, Kerry said it was not inevitable that Yemen, the scene of Saudi-led airstrikes on Houthi rebels, would become a failed state.
"I will not say yet that the verdict is in on what Yemen is going to be because we are trying very hard, working with the U.N., working with our friends in the region," he said.
"We are working hard to secure a negotiated process through the U.N. which will bring the parties together, Yemenites to negotiate the future of Yemen.
"We are having discussions over the course of every day right now in order to push towards this and our hope is that the U.N. process may be able (to) actually take hold before too long," Kerry added.
The diplomat was in Colombo for talks with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.
His comments came after the U.N. Security Council failed Friday to back a Russian appeal for an immediate ceasefire or humanitarian pauses in war-torn Yemen.
Russia requested an urgent meeting of the 15-member council as the air strikes entered a sixth week, crippling deliveries of fuel, food and medicine.
AFP
dailystar.com.lb
2/5/15
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Kerry says Yemen not yet a failed state, seeks peace talks...
ReplyDeleteUS Secretary of State John Kerry says Yemen can avoid ending up a failed state.
Kerry says the verdict isn't in yet, despite fighting in the center of the southern city of Aden and the UN's warning of a humanitarian disaster.
Kerry says the US is working with the United Nations, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to start peace negotiations between Yemen's government and the Shia rebels who've conquered much of the country.
Kerry says if that happens, Yemen "has the opportunity to hold itself together."
He says Yemen faces fuel, food and medicine shortages.
Kerry — who was in Sri Lanka on Saturday — expressed hope that more aid can reach Yemen while a Saudi-led air campaign tries to restore Yemen's internationally recognized president.
AP
ahram.org.eg
2/5/15